Manufacture of bichlorid of mercury



C. SCHANTZ.

MANUFACTURE OF BICHLORID 0F MERCURY.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-6, 1920.

1,3?3 3578, Patented Mar. 29, 1921.

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' 1 MANUFACTURE or nicnnosin'or'MnncuRY. I

Specification of Letters'ratent. if 31 529; 1921;.

Application fi1ed-Deceniber 6, 929. Serial no. 128,553.

To all whom itmag/ concern:

Be it known that I, CARL SOHANTZ, of Freiburg, Germany, a citizen of the German Republic, have invented certain new and useful improvements in the manufacture of Bi chlorid of Mercury, of which the following i a specification.

For the manufacture of bichlorid of mercury, from mercury and chlorin, a large excess of dry gaseous chlorin is generally used and the temperature is carried to the degree at which the resultant bichlorid is sublimated. In another process, chlorin under pressure is introduced into a closed vessel containing the mercury in motion in a gaseous or liquid medium, and the conversion takes place at a temperature below the vaporization point of the chlorid. If the medium is water, and the temperature 20 C. (which must not be exceeded, otherwise the water will not absorb chlorin), the heat of formation requires the use of so much water that the process is too expensive for dealing with large quantities of mercury.

According to my invention these disadvantages are obviated. The mercury is dropped through a chlorin atmos here under slight pressure into a liquid, WhlCh absorbs little or no chlorin and the temperature of which is preferably kept down to near its boiling point, as by admission of fresh cold liquid. The mercury forms bichlorid in falling through the chlorin atmosphere, and the bichlorid is dissolved in the liquid.

Apparatus for the purpose is shown in th annexed drawing, in cross section. The drum F, containing the chlorin, the mercury Q, and a body of liquid F is rotatable and has inwardly directed blades, which lift the mercury out of the liquid F and drop it back through the chlorin atmos phere into the liquid F The speed of the drum may be sufiiciently high to cause the blades to project the mercury more or less across the interior of the drum, so that it takes a longer path through the chlorin.

Examples of liquids which do not appreciably absorb chlorin are solutions of chloride, or hot water, which in the course i of the process is converted into a concentrated solution of mercury bichlorid. .The heat of formation given off to the liquid soon raises its temperature to a point at which there can be no formation of calomel.

Even if a cold saturated solution of mer cury bichlorid is used, most of the sublimate formedwillbe dissolved, byreason of the increase of temperature which occurs. Consequently metallic mercury willalways be carried back into the chlorin atmosphere.

.By regulating the supply of fresh liquid the rate of the conversion process can be controlled. The process is practicable at a high temperature, provided the same does not exceed the boiling point of the liquid.

The dissolved sublimate crystallizes out when the liquid is cooled, except in regard to that proportion thereof which saturates the cold solution, and the product is dbtained in a finely crystalline state. The l quid can be re-used for cooling and renewmg the bath. Owing to the comparatively high temperature of the bath the same is nearly free from chlorin.

As an example, 50 kg. of mercury are placed in a bath of 501. of a saturated solution of mercury bichlorid and the chlorin is introduced at a pressure of about half an atmosphere, the mercury being lifted and dropped through the chlorin as described. By admission of cold solution the temperature is kept down to about boiling point and when the conversion is complete "the quantity of liquid will be about 150 1. Of this, about 50% are mercury bichlorid 45 being newly produced in the course ofthe process. On-di'scharging and cooling the solution, all the newly produced bichlorid crystallizes out, and the liquid can be reused.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The process of producing mercury bichlorid which consists in passing mercury through an atmosphere of chlorm into a bath of a liquid which is not an active absorbent of chlorin.

2. The process of producing mercury bichlorid which consists in passing mercury through an atmosphere of chlorin into a bath of a liquid which is not an active absorbent of chlorin and cooling said bath so that its temperature is kept down approximately to boiling point. A I

3. The process of producing mercury bichlorid which consists in passing mercury through an atmosphere of chlorin into a bath of 'a liquid which is not an active absorbent of chlorin and cooling said bath by admission of fresh cold liquid so that its temperature is kept down approximately to boiling point. 1

4:. The process of producing mercury hiand cooling said bath by admission of fresh chlorid which consists in passing mercury co1 d liquid so that its temperature is kept through an atmosphere of Chlorinunder down approximatelyto boiling point. moderate pressure intona hath of e liquid .Inwvitness whereofi I have signed this 5 which is not an active absorbent of ohlorin. specification in the presence of two Wit- 15 5. Theprocess of producing mercury binesses. I

chlorid which consists in passing mercury DR. CARL SCH A NTZ; through an atmosphere of chlorine under Htnesses; moderate pressure into a bath" of a liquid KARL'BROOASSI,

10 which iSY'IIO ani ntive, absorbentof -chlorinr WEHELMSIEFQERTT. 

